Little Lamb....Little Lamb

Before I retired from school my favorite baby gift to knit and give to the new mother or grandmother was this little lamb. I was asked by one of the secretaries at school if I would knit her another, she recently added a second granddaughter to the family. Of course, this is fun to knit, and put together, the problem was finding the time, and I have to admit that I about a month late in knitting and delivering this little pet to it's new family.

He is based on a the Fiber Trends felted lamb. I tweaked the pattern here and there and came up with a lamb I liked better.

This little lamb is knitted Elspeth Lavold Chunky AL, in Ecru and Black, and Crystal Palace Kid Merino (all from stash) . I knit the tail face, and ears in a non felting wool first (Dale of Norway baby yarn, from stash). After felting I fill in the face with Chucky AL Black, felt again for about 5 minutes and let dry for about a week. The effect on the face is almost like astikan, and I really like the effect. Once dried I add safety eyes and nose, and stuff the head, body. The small seam left open for stuffing is sewn up tightly and covered by the brushed out coat. I use a wire hair brush (mohair brush), and brush from the center back down on both side. I do not brush the face, ears or tail.

A green ribbon and a flower stud attached he was ready for delivery this morning. I had to go to the LYS to pick up two needles circular needles that I ordered, only to find that as of May 1st they are no longer open on a Wednesday, however, I get this little chap delivered. The recipent was thrilled.

I am knitting lots of baby knits at present, hats, cardigans, pullovers, toys and a blanket. My youngest step-daughter is having her second child at the end of the summer and its such fun to go through pattern books and yarn already in stash to find fun things to knit. I have to start my Rowan Exchange gift soon, if I don't I know I will get distracted and fall behind.

Birthday Bear

Meet Otto another wonderful pattern from Ysolda.

I knitted this wonderful polar bear for our grand daughters birthday on Monday.
A very quick knit, using Cleckheaton Fiddle de Dee cotton from the stash.

I knitted a little scarf and crocheted a hat to keep him warm on his trip to Idaho.

I used safety eyes and nose rathern than embroidering ones.

The bear did not go empty handed he took a copy of Goodnight Polar Bear.

The beautiful tulips and iris' are from my son for Mother's Day.

Monkeys in the House

The monkey's arrived today from the wonderful Melanie in Idaho. The Cookie A pattern is Minugs which I have wanted to get my hands on for quite some time.

Lots of monkey goodness, to spoil me, two kinds of sock yarn, lots and lots of chocolate, stickers, body cream two little monkeys to keep me company and a monkey puzzle picture to keep me active. I have not tried the Araucania sock yarn from Chile, the colours a ocean blues and I think would fit the Mingus Sock pattern to a tee.

The Monkey Socks in a dreamy cotton purple, they fit and feel terrific on the feet.
Thank you Melanie for making me feel very special and making my monkey dreams come true.

Outside Geese

Flying Geese outside

Child's Ragan Cardigan from Cabin Fever. The Top Down for Toddlers is a wonderful book, easy patterns, knitted top down and very little finishing. If you hate the finishing part of knitting this is a book for you, once you weave in the ends and sew on the buttons and block you are finished.

I knitted this in Frog Tree Silk/Cotton, the yarn is a Rosy Pink colour. I was very disappointed to find that it had no care instructions on the ball band. I blocked by hand, it bled a little, I popped it into the dryer for about 20 minutes, shaped and finished dryer on top of the dryer. I had the yarn in stash, my LYS had a sale last year and I bought about six balls, the cardigan used almost four balls.

Yarn: Frog Tree Silk/Cotton (from stash)

Needle: size 5 US

Size: Toddler 3 to 4 (for grand daughters birthday in May)

Buttons: Joann's ($1.50 for a card of 3)